17 Apr 2015

The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded Katherine A. Ruffatto Hall, Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification. The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification is the standard for authenticating a building’s green features. Katherine A. Ruffatto Hall is the 73,568 square-foot home of the Morgridge College of Education (MCE). This $21.4 million building, constructed in 2010, offers state-of-the-art facilities for students, faculty, and staff.

The goal of all new construction at the University of Denver is to build to the principles of Sliver LEED standards. However MCE and its stakeholders wanted to achieve an even higher level of certification. This week, Katherine A. Ruffatto Hall met that important benchmark, Gold LEED certification. All building space, both inside and out, were integral components in achieving this certification. Every area was scrutinized for opportunities to make the building greener. Some Gold Leed Certification features of the building include; utilizing high performance glass in all windows to reduce UV and infrared transmission in the building; having a building design that allows 93% of all regularly occupied spaces within the building to view the outdoors; water efficient landscaping that reduces water consumption by 50%; recycling stations provided throughout the building; carpeting that meets the requirements of the carpet and rug institute’s “green label plus” program throughout the building; and low-flow and dual-flush plumbing fixtures that reduce water consumption by 30%. Attaining Gold LEED certification is a real world application of MCE’s mission to be a force for positive change in the lives of individuals, organizations, and communities, by providing innovative and engaging spaces for learning.